Summary:
Valdensinia heterodoxa causes a common brown concentrically ringed leaf spot on salal, mountain huckleberry, and Alaskan blueberry, identified microscopically by star-like propagules found on the leaves. Small stemmed brown fruiting bodies on the leaves are rarely found. A gradual increase in turgor forces the propagule''s radial arms against the leaf and propels it (with sufficient force for it to rise 20cm vertically) to other uninfected tissue.

Microscopic:
identified by the unique multicellular stellate [star-like] propagules, also called conidial "staurospores", attached to hyphae in the host tissue by a central pedicel, (Norvell), spores "(15.5-) 11-9.5 x 4-4.5 (-6)" microns, smooth, colorless, inamyloid in mass, thin-walled, "mainly non-septate, becoming symmetrically or asymmetrically 1-2 septate with age, not constricted at the septa, the second septum always asymmetrically placed", mainly with two droplets, (Redhead(61)); asci 8-spored, 97-110 x 6-10 microns, cylindric to slightly clavate, inoperculate, thin-walled, tapering at base; prominent croziers present at the base of some asci; paraphyses 2-3.5 microns wide, filamentous, slightly enlarged at top, septate, (Redhead(61))

Notes:
It is common in BC, WA, and OR, (Lorelei Norvell, pers. comm.), and found in PQ (Redhead(44)).

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Grandinia abieticola (Bourd & Galzin) Julich
Odontia barba-jovis subsp. abieticola Bourdot & Galzin